Carton-sealing machine



J. L. FERGUSON.

CARTON SEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED AUG 29. 1913- RENEWED 1U ga MLY 16,- I919.

Patented July 18, 1922.

8 SHEETS-SHEET' 1.

. FERGUSON.

, CARTON SEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG:29, 1913. gznzwzn JULY16, 1919.

' Patented July 18, 1922.

' 8 SHEETS SHEET 2.

J. L. FERGUSON.

CARTON SEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.29, 1913 RENEWED JULY 16,1919.

1,483,994. I ented uly 18, 1922.

I 8 SHEETS-SHEET 3- J. L. FEBGUSON.

CARTON SEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLD AUG.29, 1913i RENEWED JULY 16,1919.

1 423 094 Patented July 18, 1922.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

SQ Zia/6755257": i I W J. L. FERGUSON.

CARTON SEALING MACHINE APFLICATION FILED AUG-29, 1918- RENEWEQIULY 16,1919- 1AQ3,094. Patented July18,1922.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

1.. L. FERGUSON.

CARTON SEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION FlLED-AUG.29, 191a. RENEWED IUL YI6, 1913,

Patented July 18, 1.922

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6- 5Q J5 J6 J6 J6 i h 80 & 7 miA 77 J04. LLU 1 104 WM6595; SQ Jaye/$3 J. L.- FERGUSON. v CARTON SEALING MACHINE. APPucATloNFILED AUG-29; i913. RENEWED JULY 1 6; 1919. 23 094 Patented July 18,1922.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.-

J.L.FERGUS0N5; CARTON SEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-29, l9l3-RENEWED l ULY I6, 1919-,

Patnted July 18, 1922 8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

Illinois,

rarer caries.

JOHN L. FERGUSON,

or JoLIE'r, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ouAKEr. oars COMPANY,

OF CHICAGO, I LLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFNEW JERSEY.

. CARTON-SEALING MAcHINE.

Application filed August 29,1913, Serial No. 787,371.

'1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, a citizen of the United States, residing at Joliet,in the 'county of; Will and State of have invented new' -and'useful 1m;provements in Carton Sealing MELCl'11I1eS, 0f which the following is afull, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, forming a part'of this specification.

My invention pertains to carton-sealing machines. It is an'object of myinvention to improve upon machines of this character and to provide amachine which will be efficient as well as speedy in its operation, towhich cartons may be automatically fed from a continuous supply, andwhich will require a minimum of floor space. It is a furtherobject of myinvention to provide an efiic'ient and fast machine which will seal theopen ends of empty cartons and the other open ends of the cartons afterthe latter have been filled. Other and further objects of my inventionwill appear from the following specification, taken in connection withthe appended claims.

As an example of an embodiment of my invention, I have described in thefollowing specification and shown In the accompanyany .other endssealed,

ing drawings a'carton sealing machine to which empty cartons are fed byafter sealing, are automatically delivered to suitable weighing andfilling mechanism, from cally returned to the machine, to have their andsubsequently de= livered to a suitablereceptacle. .lt is to beunderstood, however, that my invention may be embodied in other formsthan that described and'shown, and that changes may be made in themachine shown without exceeding the scope of my invention as defined inthe appended claims.

In the "drawings:

Fig. 1-is a plan of a carton sealing machine embodying my invention; I,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig.2 1s a sectional elevation of the same," being taken on the line 3-3of the section Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; j

, Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-& of Fig. 2 looking in the directionof the. arrows;

I Fig. 5 is a plan of the controlling disc valve for the blowing offdevice, the section Specification of Ietters Patent.

JOHN L; FERcUsoN,

hand, and,

which mechanism they are automati-.

Fatented July f8, 1922. Renewed July is, 1919. Serial No. 311,381.

being taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of thearrows; Fig. 6 isa sectional elevation of the blowlng off device foreffecting the removal of the empty cartons after their ends have beensealed, and of the controlling disc valve therefor, the section beingtaken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;k V Fig. 7 is a sectional rear view of the con trolling cam which closesthe end flaps of the'cartons andspreads out the side flaps ready forgluing, the section being taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2 looking inthedirection of the arrows;

Figs. 8 21 are a series of schematic views showing the mode of operationof the cam shown in" Fig. 7

Fig. 22 is asectional fragmentary rear view of the cam for closing overthe side flaps after the latter have been glued, the section being takenon the line 22-22 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;Figs. 23-26 are a series of schematic views illustrating the mode ofoperation of the cam shown in Fig. 22; and

Figs. 2729 are three perspective views showing the successive conditionsof the carton as it is being "operated upon by the machine.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the followingspecificap'anyin drawings.

Brie y stated, the nature of the machine now to be described is asfollows: Two

.to support empty cartons in the condition shown in Fig. 27, and theother series being adapted to support filled cartons in the conditionshown in Fig. 28, but, of course, with the open end upwards. Both seriesof carton supporting members traverse the same .path during a ortion oftheir travel; and the members are so that the members of each serieswill be interspaced with those of the other series during the time whenboth series are traversboth series of members are traversing the samepath, the open "ends of the carbons folded down and glued inv place. Theempty cartons (in the condition shown in Fig; 27)

tion and the several figures of the accom-- are disposed on theconveyors ing the same path. During the time when are placed upon thesupport members of one conveyor by hand; and, after their top ends havebeen sealed, are automatically delivered (in the condition shown in Fig.28) to a weighing and filling machine; from which machine theyareautomatically fed, in afilled condition, to the support members of theother conveyor, whence they are automatically delivered (in thecondition shown in Fig. 29) to a suitable, receptacle. The sealingmechanism operates first upon the open end of an empty carton, then uponthe open end of a filled carton, then upon the open end of an emptycarton, and so on.

Referring now to the drawings and partic'ularly to Figs. land 4 thereof,the machine includes a bed 29' supported on suitable legs carryingbearings for a main drive shaft 30, which isdriven from any suitablesource of power. The shaft 30 is provided with a clutch 31 for, throwingall of the parts of the machine except the glue wheels out of operationwhen desired, the clutch bein adapted to be operated by means of'a hanle 32 placedin a position where it can be conveniently manipulated bythe operator. The shaft drives, through gearing 33, a countershaft 34,-from which the majority of the parts of the machine receive 30 theirmotion.

Mounted so as to rotate. in vertical bearings carried by the bed 29, isa'horizontal sprocket wheel 35. (Figs. 1, 3 and 4). The shaft of thesprocket wheel 35 also carries 35 a gear wheel 36 which meshes with apinion 37 carried by a stub shaft, which shaft is driven, through bevelgearin 38, by a-countershaft 34. A sprocket c ain 39' passes around thesprocket wheel 35 and around a 40 second sprocket wheel 40 which issupported at the opposite end of the machine to the wheel 35. Thesprocket chain 39 carries the supporting members for the empty cartons.The bed 29 has mounted thereupon a pair of rails 41 with which isassociated that part of the sprocket chain 39 which is located at theoutside of the machine and at the ends thereof. The bed also carries apair of rails 42 with which is associated that part of the chain whichis locateddown the center of the machine. As will hereinafter beexplained, the rails 42 are associated with. the sprocket chain for thefilled cartons as well as with the sprocket chain 39 which carries thesupports for the empty cartons. The supports for the empty cartons arespaced at e ualdistances along the sprocket chain 39. ach of. thesesupports (Figs. 1,

- ,3 .and- 6). comprises a hollow stand 43 of a" size such that a cartonwill fit thereover, and a providedwith an inlet port 44 at its lowerend. The stand 43 is provided with a stop 45 upon which rests the edgeof one of the side flaps 46 of the carton, and is formed with a port 47,for permitting the carton to be blown off when air under pressure ispass down the outside of the machine empty cartons are placed thereon byhand. As they pass down the center of the machine the end fiaps 49 and50 of the top end of the carton arefolded down and the side flaps 51 ofthe top end of the carton are folded upon the end flaps after havingbeen glued. After the folding and glueing operation, just prior to thestands passing down the outside of the machine again, the cartons areblown off by air under pressure into suit-able chutes which deliver themto a weighing and filling machine, as will now be described.

Mounted beneath the sprocket wheel 40 is a blower pipe 52 connected witha suitable source of air under pressure and provided with a pair ofnozzles 53 and 54, respectively, (Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6). The nozzles 53and 54 are spaced apart a distance which is equal to half the distancebetween each of the stands 43; and the nozzle 54 is placed nearer theperiphery of the sprocket wheel 40 than is the nozzle 53. Secured to thesprocket Wheel 40 concentrically with the same is a disc valve 55 havingtherein a pair of valve apertures 56 which are adapted to register withthe nozzle 53, and having a second pair of valve apertures 57 which areadapted to register with the nozzle 54, the apertures 57 being spacedequi-distantly between the apertures 56. Mounted above the disc valve 55with its lower end in register with the nozzle 53, is a pipe 58, theupper end of which is located so as to. register with the 1m ports 44 ofthe stands 43, as the latter pass above it. A pipe 59 is likewise.-provided, the lower end of which registers with the nozzle 54 and theupper end of which registers with the ports 44 of the stands 43, as thelatter pass above it. Located above the pipes 58 and 59, respectively,in such a position that the cartons can just pass beneath them, are apair of open ended chutes 60 and 61 which lead to a suitable weighingand filling nmchine (not shown). 1

The empty cartons, with their top ends sealed, are removed from thestands 43 in thc following manner.. When a stand, carrying a carton withits top-end sealed, reaches :1. position in which its port 44 is inregister with the pipe 58,. one-of the valve apertures 56 will havecomeinto register with the nozzle 53, the other nozzle being closed.vThe nozzle 53 being open, the compressed air :30

' chairs and stands pass down the center of eas es passes out throughit, and through the port is, into the interior of the hollow stand l3,forcibly blowing the carton up into the chute 60, and through the chuteto the weighing and filling machine. By the time the stand nextfollowing that from which the carton has just beenremoved, reaches thepipe 58, the nozzle 53 will have been closed; but by the time this standreaches the pipe 59 the nozzle 5% will have been opened, by reason ofone of the ports all having come into reg ister therewith. .The nextcarton, therefore, will be blown up into the chute 61. lit will be seen,therefore, that the empty cartons, with their top ends sealed, arealternately blown off the stands into the chutes 60 and 61, and thusdelivered to the weighing and filling machine. From the weighing andfilling mechanism they are automatically returned to the machine and fedone by one to the second conveyor, which again passes them beneath thefolding and gluing devices, to seal their other ends.

Rotatably mounted on the bed 29 are a pair of sprocket wheels 62 and 63,around which passes sprocket chain tid (Figs. 1,' 2 and l), The sprocketwheel 62 is provided with a gear wheel 65 which meshes with the gearwheel 3% of the sprocket wheel 35. The chain ea ns down the center ofthe machine parallel W-nil1 the chain 39, between the rails a2, andruns, at the outside of the machine and at the ends thereof, betweenrails'be, similar to rails ll, Secured to the chain 64:, at spacestherealong which are the same as the spaces between the stands id-are aseries of chairs 6? of such a height that they will support the filledcartons with their end flaps on the same plane as the end tlaps of theempty cartons which are carried by the stands ed. The chairs 67' areprovided with backs 68 for supporting the cartons, and are formed withside flanges 69 which rest upon, and are slidably supported by, therails 66 or the rails s2, according to the position of the chairs in themachine. The chairs are so disosed upon the chain 64: that they will beinterspaced equal distances between the stands 43 3) the time when thethe machine,

The fil ed cartons are delivered from the weighing and iillingimachineto an endless conveyor band 70, which, turn delivers them to a secondendless conveyor band 71., which runs parallel with the chain ea at theoutside of machine s. and M -'lliese conveyor bands are pro ,led withside guides IQ and Y3, respectively, which hold the cartons in properposition during their movements. Located inst above the conveyor 71 is atransfer cylinder 7%, a portion of the outer edge of which is formed aspiral curve, as at 75, which curve terminates in nsverse edge 76. Thetransfer cylinder 7% is provided with a sprocket 77, around which passesa chain 78. The chain also passes around a sprocket 79 which drives theconveyor 71, around an idler 80 and around a sprocket 81 secured to thecountershaft at. The gearing is such that the transfer cylinder rotatesonce for each of the chairs 6'? which passes it.

The conveyor 71 delivers the cartons one behind the other against thesurface of the transfer cylinder 74. N hen the transfer cylinder comesto the position in which its transverse edge 76 is midway between itstop and bottom positions, the conveyor belt is permitted to begin tomove the carton or cartons forward.- As this movement continues thefront carton (supposing more than one to be on the, conveyor which therewill usually be) is tilted, by the spiral edge 75 of the transfercylinder, in the direction of the conveyor chain he;

The carton is then moved forward, by the conveyor belt 71', onto anintermediate table 106, the carton next following it being detained byreason of its engagement with the su ri'ace oi the transfer cylinder.The intermediate tahle 106 is located just below the surface of theconveyor belt 71 along the side of the latter; and the chairs 6? pass 7successively beneath it. A guide 10'? is arranged so as to be engaged bythe inner sides of the top endsoi the cartons during their transference;and a guide 101% is'provided for engaging the outer sides oi their lowerends. These guidesforce each carton to assume, when it is deposited onthe intermediate table, such a position that it will he struck by theback 68 of the next chair, and carried, forward by the chair.

By the above described mechanism the cartons are automaticallytransferred one by one to the chairs 6'? from the conveyor belt 71. Themechanism is not controlled by the cartons, and will operate equallywell regardless ofwhether there'is a, nui'n her of cartons in a row onthe conveyor belt 71, or whether they are being delivered by the belt inirregularly spaced relation with each other. This is due to the factthat, when one carton has been carried onto the intermediate table, thenext carton {supposing one should be close behind it} is pre vented frombeing moved oil the conveyor byreason of-the engagement of front faceagainst thei,-surt'ace oi the transfer cyl- 'inder' 74. l Vh'en however,the nest (llldli has arrived near the position in which 1 3-.'

ceive's a carton, the transfer cylinder have made a haltrevolution andwi 1 permit the transfer at this carton e intermediate table ready to beswept on 7 t'i'ie chair. The movement of a carton the cgnveyor 71 to theintermediate table cannot be started except at precisely the rightmoment, since the surface of the ansfor cylinder forms a stop againstwhich the gluing mechanism. After passing beneath the folding and gluingmechanism, theyare automatically transferred, in the condition shown inFig. 29, to a conveyor 83 which delivers them to a suitable receptacle.The

transference of'the cartons to the conveyor 83 is effected by means of afinger 84 (Fig. 1) against which the cartons are adapted to strike, andwhich deflects them onto the conveyor.

The folding and gluing mechanism now to be described operatesalternately upon the open end of an empty carton and the open end of afilled carton, as the cartons are carried, in interposed relation,beneath it by the conveyor chains. This mechanism includes a folderwheel 85 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7) carrying a sprocket 86 over which passesa chain 87. The chain 87 passes around a sprocltet 88 secured to themain shaft 30 and around a sprocket 89 carried by the folding cylinder,which latter folds down the side flaps and will be described below.

The folder wheel 85 isformed with a hook 90 disposed immediately abovethe center of the path of the cartons down the middle of the machine.The sides of the hook 90 are curved outwardly, as at 91', in wedge formand merge into 'disc portions 92 which are located laterally beyond thepath which would be traversed by the side flaps of thecartons-weresuchjlaps to remain in their upright condition. The fblderwheel 85 is so dis osed, and the mechanism is so timed, that t-.;e pointof the book 90 will be substantially in line with the axis of the folderwheel just prior to thetime when each car ton l e brought against it bythe conveyor mechanism (Fig. 8 mechanismficarries the carton forward,its end flap 4C9 (supposing it to be an empty carton which is beingsealed) is pushed against the face of the book 99 (Fig. 9). As thecarton moves forward further, the end flap 49 is pushed downward to agreater and greater extent as shown in Figs. 10, 12 and 14;, and, in endview, in Figs. 11, 13 and 15. The flap 4:9 is ultimately folded downfiat as shown in F 16, and, in end view, in Fig. 1'5. As the folderwheel rotates further, the edges of the hook portion ass awa in lateraldirection from the a J? a.

ripheral faces of the glue wheels 94- 'in the center of the bed 29.

As the conveyor fiap 49, and permit it to spring upward been foldeddown, the flap 49 enters beneath a horizontal tongue 93 (Fig. 20) whichis disposed centrally in the path of the cartons, which tongue foldsdown the flap 49 again, above the flap :9 (Fig. 21).

While the end flaps 49 and 50 are being folded down in the mannerdescribed above, the side flaps 51 are spread outward into a horizontalposition. This is effected by the wedge faces 91 of the hook 90. Whenthe folder wheel reaches about the. position shown in Fig. 14, the wedgefaces 91 of the hook 90 begin to engage against the inner surfaces ofthe side flaps 51, moving them outward as shown in end view in Fig. 15.As the folder wheel moves further, the wedge faces 91 force the flaps 51out into a horizontal position (Fig- 17). The front portion of thetongue 93 is made of wedge shape (Fig. 1), so as to catch the side flaps51 and retain them in a horizontal position after they have left the camwheel.

As the cartons are moved further forward their side flaps. pass beneatha pair of glue wheels 94, which are driven, by chains 95 and 96, fromthe main shaft 30, the gearing being suclf that the peripheral speed ofthe wheels 94; will be the same as the speed of travel of the cartonsthrough the machine. The petravel in a suitable steam heated glue box97. As the cartons pass forward, glue is applied to their side flaps bythe glue wheels 94:, their end flaps being retained in folded positionby means of a tail piece 98 which extends fromthe tongue 93. I

As the cartons pass away from the glue wheels. 94, the lower faces. ofxtheir side flaps strike a pair of wedge shaped members 99 carried by atable 80, which is The wedge members 99 (Fig. 3) bend ward slightly,after which the fiaps enter the hollow portion of a folding cylinder 1001, 3, and 22-26). cylinder carries the sprocket 89 which is driven bythe chain. 87, as described above. The periphery of the cylinder 190 isout away'so as to form a large aperture terminating in a transversearc-shaped edge 101. The corners of the side flaps 51 (supposing it tobe an empty carton which is being sealed) enter the aperture of thecylinder 100, and, as the cylinder rotates, the edge 101- forces theside flaps toward each other (Figs. 24 and 25) folding them down flatupon the end flaps. Thereafter, the face of the cylinder pnesses theside flaps down upon each other and upon the end flaps (Fig. 26). Theside flaps are folded supported the side flaps up-.

The folding down and glued upon the end flaps. As the cartons continuetheir travel, the side flaps are held down upon the end flaps by meansof a plurality of rollers 102 mounted and arranged so as to press uponthe tops of the cartons as they are carried along beneath them.

In the above description of the sealing: or the cartons reference hasbeen made to the numerals denoting the flaps of the empty cartons; butit wili be understood, of course, that the sealing mechanism operatesfirst upon the ends oi an empty carton, then upon the ends of a filledcarton, and so on.

in order that the cartons may be held in piace'during the sealingoperation, a pair oi side rails 103 are disposed down the center of themachine so as to slidably engage the sides of the cartons adjacent thebottoms. A second pair of rails 104 are provided for slidably engagingthe sides of the cartons adjacent the tops.

will be observed that the machine which has been described above as anemhodiment of my invention, utilizes the same sealingdevices for sealingthe upper ends of empty cartons as for sealing the other ends of thesame cartons after they have been fiiled. The feeding and dischargeoperations with the exception of the piacin of the empty cartons on thestands, whic in the machine described, is performed by hand. Thetransfer of the filled cartons from the conveyor belt to the chairs isefi eoted with certainty, even when the chairs are running at highspeed, and the mechanism for e18 fecting such transfer operates properlyregardless of the position or quantity of the cartons on the conveyorbelt. The foiding or" the end flaps is performed a consider abiy higherspeed than is attained in the folding; machines now on the market, thisbeing: due to the nature and arrangement of the parts, and largely tothe fact that rotatinn; devices are employed for performing the foldingoperations. The nature of the various mechanisms is such that there islittle likelihood of their getting; out of. order v by reason or wear orhard usage. The machine occupies, buthttle floor space and may readilyhehandledhy one operator.

l have descrihed, by way of example, one form of machine inwhich myinvention may be embodied; but Wish it understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms, and that some of the mecsanisms may beemployed in other connections than that in which they are described,What ll claim being: p

i n a machine for sealing the flaps or cartons the combination Withl'apair of conveyors for the cartons, said conveyors traveling, thronghoueaportion of their length, in separate paths travei,

together are all automaticaily performed,

paths while receiving the cartons and in the same path Whiie bringingthe cartons into operative reiation with the sealing mechanism;

3. in a machine for sealing the (laps of 0Q) cartons, the combinationWiti a. sealing mechanism, of two sets or carton carriers for bringingthe cartons into operative rela tion with, said mechanism, and means forcausing said carriers to travei ,in separate paths Whiie deiivering thecartons and in the same path'while bringing the cartons into operativerelation with the sealing mechanism.

at. in a machine for seaiing the flaps cartons, the combination withseal ng mech anism, of two sets of carton carriers or bringing thecartons oper ve relation with said mechanism, means for causing saidcarriers to travei in separate paths while receiving and deliverin thecartons and in the same "whiie winging the cartons into operativereiation the seeding; mechanism.

5. in a machine the character described, the combine n with a'continnousiy traveling conveyor, "1 con inuously operating rotary endflap ding mechanism, continuously operaeing rotary side flap foidingmechanism.

6. "in a machine of the character de" scribed, the combin ofcontinuouslyoperating rotary end foidin continuously operati rating lltl, weapon 10.'ln a machine of the character described, a side flapspreader and end flap,

folder comprising a rotary hook having a pair of wedge shapedcwingsdiverging therefrom. y

11. lln a machine of the character described, a side flap spreader andend flap folder comprising a rotary arc-shaped hook having a pair ofwedge shaped wings diverging therefrom. a

12. in a machine of the .character described, a side flap spreader andend flap folder comprising a rotary arc-shaped hook having a pair ofWedge shaped wings di yerging therefrom, said wings terminatin in-discportions. Y

-13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a.rotary side spreader and end flap folder comprising an arc-shaped hook,a pair of wedge shaped wings diverging from said hook anda pair of discportions in which said wings terminate, and means for continuouslymoving cartons beneath said device.

1 2. in a carton sealing machine, an end flap folding mechanismcomprising means for moving the cartons, and a revoluble member disposedadjacent said moving means and adapted to engage an end flap from behindand fold it down in the direction of movement of the carton and underthe other end flap.

In a machine for sealing cartons hav ing two oppositely disposed endflaps, a

folding mechanism for said end flaps comprising means for moving thecartons, and

a revoluble member disposed adjacent said moving means, and adaptedfirst to be engaged by the front face of the front end flap, whereby'thelatter is folded, and then to en age the rear end flap from behind andfold it down in the direction of movement of the carton.

16. in machine for sealing cartons having two oppositely disposed end,flaps, a fold ing mechanism for said end flaps comprising means formoving the cartons, and a.

revoluble member disposed adjacent said moving means and adapted firstto be engaged by the front face of the front end flap whereby the latteris initiall folded, and then to engage the rear end apfrom behind andfold it down in the direction of movement of the carton and under saidfront endflap.

17. in a machine for sealing cartons having two oppositely disposed endflaps, a

folding mechanism for said end flaps com-' prising means for moving thecartons, a revoluble member disposed adjacent said moving means andadapted first to be engaged by the front face of the front end flap,whereby the latter is initially folded, and then to engage the rear endap from hehind and fold it down in the direction of movement of thecarton and under said front end flap, and means disposed adjacent saidmoving means, adapted for engage ment by the front end flap after saidrear end flap has been disposed thereunder, whereby the front end flapis maintained in folded condition on top of said rear end flap. 18. In acarton sealing machine, a flap folding mechanism comprising means formoving the cartons, and a rotary member disposed adjacent said movingmeans and adapted to engage an end flap from behind and fold it down inthe direction of movement of the carton, said member having a sidethereof formed to wedge shape, thereby to engage and spread a side flapduring the rotation of the member.

19. In a carton sealing machine, a folding mechanism for the end flapsof the cartons comprising means for moving the cartons, and a rotarymember disposed adjacent said moving means and adapted first to beengaged by the front, face of the front end flap, whereby the latter isfolded, and then to engage the rear end flap from behind and fold itdown in the direction of movement of the carton, said member having aside thereof formed to wedge Shape, therebyto engage and spread a sideflap during the rotation of the member. a

20. n a machine for sealing cartons having two oppositely disposed sideflaps, a rotary side fiap spreading member, a rotary glue applyindevice, and a rotary side flap folding mem er.

21. in a machine for sealing cartons, a rotary end flap folding and sideflap spreading member, a rotary glue applyin device and a rotary sideflap folding mem er.

22. In a machine for sealing cartons, rotary means for spreading theside flaps, rotary means for folding the end fiaps, a rotary glueapplying device and rotary means for folding the side flaps.

23. in a carton sealing machine, a flap folding mechanism comprisingmeans for moving the cartons, a rotary member disposed adjacent saidmoving means and adapted to engage an end flap from behind and fold itdown in the direction of movementof the carton, said member having aside thereof iormed to wedge shape, thereby to engage and spread a sideflap during the rotation of the member, a rotary side flap gluingdevice, and a rotary side flap folding device. I

24. in a carton sealing machine, a folding mechanism for the end flapsof the cartons comprising means for moving the cartons, a rotary memberdisposed adjacent said moving means and adapted first to be engaged bythe front face of'the front end flap, whereby the latter is folded, andthen to engage the rear end flap from behind and fold reac es it down inthe direction of movement of the carton, said member having a sidethereof formed to wedge shape, thereby to engage and spread a side flapduring the rotation oi the member, a rotary side lap gluing device, anda rotary side flap folding device.

A machine comprising, mechanism for operating on containers and twoconveyors,

each, during its travel, carrying thecontainers in position to beoperated on by respect to a container, and two conveyors,

one for carrying empty containers and one for carrying filledcontainers, each conveyor, during a portion of its travel, carrying thecontainers in position to be operated on by said closing means,

28. A. machine comprising means for placing a closure in closingposition with respect to a container, and two container carryingconveyors, each conveyor, during a portion of its travel, carrying thecontainers in position to be operated on by said closing means.

29. In a machine of the character described, the combination with aclosing mechanism, of conveying means for conveying a container throughsaid mechanism, comprising a pair of horizontally disposed endlessconveyors, the paths of'travel of said container-conveying meanscoinciding while passing the containers through the closin mechanism.

30. n a machine of the character described, the combination with aclosing mechanlsm, of a container conveyor for con veying the containersthrough said mochanism, provided with a plurality" of stands forreceiving empty containers, and a second conveyor provided with aplurality of chairs for receiving filled containers, the paths of travelofsaid container carriers coinciding as-they pass the. containersthrough said closing mechanism. 1

31. In a machine ofthe character described, the combination with aclosing mechanism, of two sets of horizontally dis posed tracksconverging into a single set beneath said closing mechanism, container-'receiving members arranged to travel on said tracks, and means foradvancing said members on said tracks.

' 32. in a machine of the character described, the combination with aclosing mechanism, of-two sets ofhorizontally disposed tracks'converginginto a single set beneath carrying arran ed other set, and advancingtracks.

stands and chairs 0 33. A machine c prising mechanism for operating withrespect to articles, and two conveyors, each during its travel, carryingsaid articles in positionfor said mechanism to operate with respectthereto. I g

34. A machine comprising mechanism f operating on articles, a firstconveyor carrying said articles under the operating mechanism, a secondconveyor, means for transferring said articles from said first conveyorto said second conveyor, said second conveyorcarrying the articies undersaid operating mechanism a second time, and. presenting said articles ina diiierent position from that in which the first conveyor presentedthem.

35. A machine comprising mechanism for operating on articles, a firstconveyor for said articles under the operating mechanism, a secondconveyor, means for transferring said articles from said first conveyorto said second conveyor, said second conveyor carrying the articlesunder said operating mechanism a second time.

' 36. A container closing machine, comprising means foroiosing the endsof containers, a first conveyor for carrying the containers under theclosing mechanism, and presenting one end of the containers for closing,a second conveyor and means for transferring the containers from thefirst conveyor to the second conveyor, said second conveyorcarrying thecontainers under the closing mechav nism in position to close the otherend of the container.

37. A machine for closing both ends of a container, comprising closingmechanism,

a conveyor for carrying the container past said closing mechanism forclosing one on of said container, and a second conveyor for againcarrying said container past said closing mechanism, for closing theother end of the container. a 38. In a carton sealing machine, an endflap folding mechanism comprising means for movingthe cartons, and arotary-memher disposed adjacent said moving means and having formedthereon a hook portion which is adapted to engage an end flap frombehind and fold, it down in the direction of movement of the carton andunder the other endflap.

39. In a machine of the character described, an end flap foldingmechanism com ,prisin a rotary member having an arcshape hook portion,and means for moving a container so that a front end flap first engagesthe face of said hook portion and'is folded down and thereafter a pointof lsaid hook portion engages the rear end flap and folds it down.

40. In a carton sealing machine, an end flap folding mechanismcomprising means for moving the cartons, and a revoluble member disposedadjacent said moving means and comprising means for folding down aforward end flap and a rear end flap, that flap which is folded down ina direction opposite to the direction of movement of the carton beingfinally disposed on top of the other flap. v

y 41. In a machine of the character described, an end flapfoldingmechanism comprising a rotary member having an arcshaped hook portion,and means for moving a container so that a front end flap first engagesthe face of said hook portion and is folded down and thereafter a pointof said hook portion engages the rear end flap and folds it down, saidhook portion being so positioned that said front end flap springs upafter it has been initially folded and allows the rear end flap to beplaced there under, and additional means for again folding said frontend flap down and on top of said rear flap.

42. In a machine for folding the side flaps of cartons, a rotary sideflap folder having its axis transverse to the container and providedwith an edge to fold said flaps, said folder having a hollowunobstructed interior to receive said flaps priorto their engagement bysaid foldin edge.

' 43. In a machine or folding the side flaps of cartons, a hollowcylindrical roller interposed in the path of said flaps, said rollerhaving a cutaway portion and said portion terminating in a transverseoperating edge, means for so advancing the cartons that said flaps areentered within said hollow cylinder, and means for rotating saidcylinder to cause said operating edge thereafter to engage said flapsand fold them down.

44. In a machine for folding the side flaps of cartons, a conveyor forthe cartons, and a roller side-flap fold-er extending transversely tothe carton path and in line with the said side flaps, said roller beinghollow and having a cutaway portion forming an arcual edge to engage andfold inwardly the said side flaps after they have advanced into theinterior of the roller. v

45. In a machine for folding the side flaps of cartons, a hollowcylindrical roller interposed in the pathof said flaps, said rollerhaving a cutaway, portion, said portion terminating in a transverseoperating edge,

means for so advancingthe cartons'that said flaps are entered withinsaid hollow, cylinder'to a point beyond the axisof said 'cylinder, andmeans for rotating said cylinder to cause said operating edge thereafterto substantially perpendicularly engage the edges iaaaoee of the flapsand at a point intermediate the ends of said edges to fold said flapsdown.

46. In a machine of the character described, a hollow rotary member f rfolding the upstanding side flaps of a container placed in operativerelation therewith, comprising a substantially cylindrical member havinga cutaway portion, said portion terminating in a transverse operatingedge, and means for relatively moving said container and saidrotarymeans so that the flaps substantially perpendicularly encounter saidcutaway portion as said means rotates and said transverse edge engagesthe outer side of said flaps and folds the same.

47. In a machine of the character described,.a rotary means for foldingthe side flaps of a container placed in operative relation with saidmeans comprising a camlike member having a cutaway portion and a faceportion, and means for moving said container relatively to said meanswhereby the flap is folded by substantially perpendicular engagement ofthe cutaway portion with the edge of the flap and thereafter pressed bythe face portion of said member.

48. In a machine of thecharacter described, a unitary, continuouslyrotating side flap folder comprising a hollow substantially cylindricalmember having a transverse edge for simultaneously engaging twooppositely-disposed side fiaps and folding them toward one another,means for thereafter pressing said flaps down together, and means timedto move said upstanding carton flaps into said hollow cylinder to apoint beyond the axis thereof and into operative relation first withsaid engaging means and then into relation with said pressing means.

49. In a machine of the character described, a conveyor for cartonshaving side flaps, and a hollow roller folder for said flaps disposedtransversely of the path of travel of said containers and in line withthe flaps to be folded, said roller having a portion of its face cutaway to form a folding edge to engage the flaps after they have beenprogressed, in an upstanding position, into the interior of said folder,and fold them down on the ends of the cartons, said folding edge beingbrought substantially perpendicularly down against the mid portion ofthe flap edge upon the initiation of the foldto be folded, said conveyormoving said cartons into operative relation with" said folderindependently of'the latter, and said roller having a portion of itsface cut away to form a folding edge to engage the outer sides of theflaps and fold them down on the ends of the cartons,the folded flapsbesage Way and into the ing then held down by the surface of the roller,and means for operating the roller at the same surface speed as thecontainers.

51. In. a machine of the character described having a passageway forcontainers with side flaps to be folded and having a conveyor forcarrying said containers along said passage, a roller folder for eachside flap extending transversely of the said pasath of the flapsto befolded byit, said rol er having a portion of its surface cut awayvtoform a folding edge to engage and fold the said flaps after the latterhave passed the circumference of the roller, the surface of the rollerthen rolling upon the folded flaps for the remainder of the paxage ofthe containers thereunder, said'containers being fed throughsaid-passage independently of said roller folder.

52. In a machine of the character described, a bed frame, a plurality oftracks mounted thereupon, article conveying means associated with saidtracks whereby articles are received in separate zones and thereafbercarried through an operatingzone common to said-plurality of tracks,and a superstructure frame mounted on said first frame and carryingmeans to operate on the tops of said articles while in said operatingzone.

53. In a machine of the character described, a bed frame, a plurality ofhorizontally disposed and substantially ellipticaltracks mounted on saidbed, said tracks having a section in common extcndin longitudinallyalong the center of said he a superstructure frame for supportingdevices adapted to operate on'articles carried along said common portionof the tracks, end flap folding mechanism, side flap gluin means, andside'fiap folding mechanism, al of said last named mechanimn beingmounted on said superstructure. I

=54. In a machine of the character described, a bed frame, a pluralityof horizontally disposed and substantially elliptical tracks mounted onsaid bed, endless conveying mechanisms having article carriersassociated therewith and adapted to transverse said tracks, said trackshaving a section in common extending longitudinally along the center ofsaid bed, whereby all the article carriers pass down the center of saidmachine, a superstructure frame for supporting devices adapted tooperate on articles carried along said common portion of the tracks, endflap folding mechanism, side flap spreading mechanism, side flap gluingmeans, and side flap folding mechanism, all of said lastnamed mechanismsbeing mounted on said superstructure, and a common driving'means havingconnections to operate said conveyors and all of said article-treatingdevices.

55. In a machine of the character described, a frame, a pair ofhorizontal endveyors for empty cartons, carton carriers on the otherconveyor for filled cartons, the said blocks and carriers, travelingsubstantially the same path through the center of the machine, flapfolding, gluing and pressing means, located along said central path andsupported above the same, to fold, glue and seal the end flaps of boththe empty and filled cartons as they pass therethrough, and drivingdevices and connections on said frame to actuate the said conveyors andoperating means.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses.

Witnesses:

J. H. ANDREWS, H. BONSTEDT.

